Anger after chaotic 2½-hour disruption on East Rail line as man opens train exit

MTR passengers wait at Tai Wai station following the suspension of services.

Photo: Edmond So Hong Kong commuters have complained about chaotic scenes after services on a section of the East Rail line were suspended for about 2½ hours on Friday when a passenger opened an emergency exit on a train and was later found injured in a tunnel.

The disruption caused chaos during rush hour.

Affected stations were packed with passengers who later had to wait in long queues for alternative transport.

According to rail operator the MTR Corporation, the incident happened at 4.35pm when a passenger entered the rear driver’s cab and pushed open the emergency exit ramp while the train was travelling from Kowloon Tong to Tai Wai station.

The train’s built-in safety system “triggered an emergency brake” and alerted the driver, the corporation said.

Services between Mong Kok East and Tai Wai stations were later suspended, the corporation said.

Free shuttle buses from Kowloon Tong to Tai Wai station were provided.

East Rail services from Admiralty to Mong Kok East station and from Tai Wai to Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau station remained in operation but schedules were adjusted.

At 4.49pm, police received a report about a man straying onto a railway track area, forcing the train to come to a halt.

Police and firefighters arrived at the scene shortly.

The man momentarily went missing before being located in the tunnel.

He was found injured, possibly by an electric shock, police said.

Passengers are forced to wait at Tai Wai station.

Photo: Edmond So Some witnesses reportedly said the man had burns on his face and hands and was wearing an oxygen mask.

He was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei for treatment.

The line gradually resumed full service at 6.56pm, the corporation said.

Half an hour later, a sea of stranded commuters filled Tai Wai station’s concourse.

As of 7.50pm, hundreds of passengers were still queuing for buses outside Tai Wai station, with police setting up cones to facilitate order.

Some angry passengers complained on social media about the operator’s contingency plans. “This is MTR’s contingency plan?

There were zero announcements and only one staff member present at the concourse of Tai Wai station.

People coming in and out crammed together.

Some needed to cross fixed fences, there was almost a stampede,” one wrote on Threads.

Another passenger who apparently was on the affected train said they were eventually driven back to Tai Wai, b

原文链接: 南华早报